Technicians have completed construction of the capsule that will return astronauts to the Moon, and have shipped it to Florida for final assembly into a full spacecraft.

The capsule (a pressure vessel) for NASA’s Orion Exploration Mission-2 (EM-2) spacecraft was welded together over the last seven months by Lockheed Martin technicians and engineers at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans.

Orion is the world’s only exploration-class spaceship, and the EM-2 mission will be its first flight with astronauts on board.

Mike Hawes, Lockheed Martin (www.lockheedmartin.com) vice-president and programme manager for Orion, said: “It’s great to see the EM-2 capsule arrive just as we are completing the final assembly of the EM-1 crew module.

"We’ve learned a lot building the previous pressure vessels and spacecraft; the EM-2 spacecraft will be the most capable, cost-effective and efficient one we’ve built.”

Orion’s pressure vessel is made from seven large machined aluminium-alloy pieces that are welded together to produce a strong, lightweight and air-tight capsule.

It was designed specifically to withstand the harsh and demanding environment of deep-space travel, while keeping the crew safe.

Matt Wallo, senior manager of Orion production at Michoud, said: “We are all taking extra care with this build and assembly, knowing that this spaceship is going to take astronauts back to the Moon for the first time in four decades.

"It’s amazing to think that — one day soon — the crew will watch the sun rise over the lunar horizon through the windows of this pressure vessel. We are all humbled and proud to be doing our part for the future of exploration.”